Album Review: Solarstone Presents Pure Trance Volume 2

This review can also be found at TranceHub.com 

Pure Trance Vol. 1 brought back what Trance is about. Pure Trance Vol. 2 made sure that Trance stays by delivering a more purer sound of trance.

Solarstone has released the second volume of Pure Trance. His way of reminding us what trance is all about. This time he brought in another pure trance producer - Italy’s own Giuseppe Ottaviani.

The journey to pure trance begins with Winkee’s take of Perfect Destiny by Adam Nickey, a blend of soft melody, rolling kick drums and haunting vocals that would be the theme of the disc one. Solarstone truly made an amazing mix - balancing the tempo while keeping pure trance all throughout. I was intrigued by Lovers, a track on his Pure album, this one was more robust with Lemon’s deeper voice than of Solarstone.

Halfway through the disc, Solarstone drops his Pure Mix of the Love Theme from Blade Runner. Though I truly adore this track, it was not my favorite. That distinction goes to the next track - Future Disciple’s Kwiwakurra. This track was truly melodic and makes you wanna just close your eyes and drift away. Solarstone then takes us through truly inspiring and quite beautiful mashups of Ferry Corsten & Betsie Larkin’s Made of Love with John O’Callaghan’s I’ll Follow and Ben Lost’s Jump The Next Train with Franz’s Emerge. The latter closing his part of Pure Trance album.

Giuseppe begins his part of the album with Prophecy by Alex Matteo, a soulful track filled with melodic piano chords. He then takes us to a journey of uplifting sounds and vocal trance beauties which include the classic Big Sky by John O’Callaghan & Audrey Gallagher as well as tracks for his Magenta album - Brilliant People and Waiting On Sunday. He delivers a beautiful ending to this chapter with Will Atkinson’s Hermosa. What a sweet finish! The track is filled with haunting chant and lush melodic keys that surely put a smile on your face and put you into a feel-good mood.

The energy of both disc is quite different - Solarstone was quite subtle - softer melodies that provide calmness. Giuseppe was more upbeat - feeling the room with uptempo keyboard chords and that lush big room sound. Yet both kept it within the realms of Trance, which is what Pure Trance is all about. The transition on both disc is seamless while the selection of tracks as well as the progression from track to track was fantastic.

This surely is a must-have for trance lovers out there. And for those who think trance is gone - take a listen to Pure Trance and it will change your mind.

Take a Listen on Spotify here

Track List

Disc 1.
01. Adam Nickey - Perfect Destiny (Winkee Remix Reconstruction)
02. Aerium - Horizons (Solarstone Retouch)
03. Solarstone ft. Lemon - Lovers (Pure Mix Reconstruction)
04. Elfsong - Seldarine
05. Alex M.O.R.P.H - Eternal Flame (Solarstone Pure Mix)
06. Walsh & McAuley - Ashgrove Throne
07. M.I.K.E - Respire (Solarstone Retouch)
08. Zoo Brazil ft. Philip - Heart's A Legend (Solarstone Pure Mix Retouch)
09. Solarstone - Love Theme from Blade Runner (Pure Mix)
10. Future Disciple - Kwiwakurra
11. Driftmoon - Howl At The Moon (Solarstone Retouch)
12. John O'Callaghan ft. Ria - I’ll Follow (Solarstone Pure Dub Retouch)
13. Ferry Corsten ft. Betsie Larkin - Made Of Love (Acapella)
14. Suncatcher - Are We There Yet? (Original Mix)
15. Franz - Emerge (Dreamy Remix)
16. Ben Lost - Jump The Next Train (Acapella)

Disc 2
01. Alex Matteo - Prophecy (Original Mix)
02. Darren Tate - All I Am (Original Mix)
03. Sied van Riel - 8 Decades (Original Mix)
04. Colonial One - Atlas (Original Mix)
05. Andrea Mazza ft. Hysteria! - This Perfect Night (Original Mix)
06. John Mash - Metamorphosi (Original Mix)
07. Alexandre Bergheau & Alex Wackii - French Kiss (Original Mix)
08. Marynus Revert - Scent Of My Dreams (Original Mix)
09. Andain - You Once Told Me (Agnelli & Nelson Remix)
10. Stuart Millar - Always A Moment
11. John O'Callaghan ft. Audrey Gallagher - Big Sky (Original Mix)
12. John O'Callaghan ft. Erica Curran - I Believe (Giuseppe Ottaviani Remix)
13. Giuseppe Ottaviani with Aly & Fila - Brilliant People (Sneijder Remix)
14. Giuseppe Ottaviani ft. Vitamin B - Waiting On Someday (OnAir Mix)
15. James Dymond - Carbon (Original Mix)
16. Joey Chilson - Lost & Found (Original Mix)
17. AERO 21 - Performance (Original Mix)
18. Will Atkinson - Hermosa (Original Mix)

This review can also be found at TranceHub.com

Album Review: Giuseppe Ottaviani - Magenta

Magenta is the color of summer 2013!

If you research “Magenta”, it will tell you that the color symbolizes universal harmony and emotional balance. And this is what Giuseppe Ottaviani intended to do with his second studio album. This 15-track album is filled with harmonious tracks produce with collaboration from fellow trance producers and vocalists. Let's take a journey into the sounds of “Magenta.”

"the colour Magenta represents universal love at its highest level. The album's concept is exactly that. Music intended to promote the very same essence the colour does." - Giuseppe Ottaviani

The album starts with “Rush”, a breakbeat filled uplifting track with hints of drum-n-bass vocalled by Lo-Fi Sugar. This was followed by “Love Will Bring It Around”, which features Eric Lumiere. The lead single of the album is filled with melodic percussion and piano melodies working harmoniously with Lumiere's amazing strong voice that would surely you put a smile in your face. “Stars” with Linnea Schössow brings in haunting vocals, dreamy melody and pulsing bass line - a forte of Ottaviani's production. He follows with “Illusion” with Stephen Pickup, a “GO!” alum, bringing in a more progressive sound.

Some electro comes into play in “Cold Flame”, the first non-vocal track of the album. The track is filled with distorted bass coupled with uplifting string melodies that borders the boundaries of trance and electro music. He then brings us back to uplifting and melodic vocal trance with “Gave Me” vocalled by Seri followed by “I Am Your Shadow” with Audio Cells and Shannon Hurley. This track is fast becoming one of my faves from the album due to its complete balance of spewing bass lines, uplifting melodies and the dynamic-haunting voice of Ms. Hurley. Ottaviani teams up with Faith once more for “Nothing Wrong”. This melodic track is a great follow up to “Angel”.

Ottaviani brought in some harder trance in “Feel The Music” and “Waterpark”. The build up on Feel The Music is amazing with high octane beats and techno riffs while Waterpark is filled with melodic synths and energetic bass line that would surely make you want to dance. He brought in his signature style in “Heal This Empty Heart” vocalled by Alana Aldea. While slowing things down in “Waiting On Someday” with features the voice of Vitamin B wrapped in melodic string riffs  and emotional chords. Haunting vocals courtesy of Audrey Gallagher came into play in the melodic track “Walk This World With Me”.

Ottaviani teamed up with two of the biggest producers in the latter part of Magenta. He collaborated with Egyptian duo Aly & Fila in producing “Brilliant People” which contains powerful bass line and a breakdown filled with beautiful piano melodies and haunting female chant. Then he teamed up with Ferry Corsten for “Magenta”, the title track to close out the album. This track has it all with symphonic strings, deep melodic grooves and synths and a melodic that you would surely get you humming.

The color magenta means universal harmony and balance. And Ottaviani surely shown that with this album. The Italian producer has provided us the tools to paint the summer... Magenta!

10/10

Tracklist:
01. Giuseppe Ottaviani ft. Lo-Fi Sugar - Rush
02. Giuseppe Ottaviani & Eric Lumiere - Love Will Bring It All Around
03. Giuseppe Ottaviani ft. Linnea Schössow - Stars
04. Giuseppe Ottaviani ft. Stephen Pickup - Illusion
05. Giuseppe Ottaviani - Cold Flame
06. Giuseppe Ottaviani ft. Seri - Gave Me
07. Giuseppe Ottaviani & Audio Cells ft. Shannon Hurley - I Am Your Shadow
08. Giuseppe Ottaviani ft. Faith - Nothing Wrong
09. Giuseppe Ottaviani - Feel The Music
10. Giuseppe Ottaviani ft. Alana Aldea - Heal This Empty Heart
11. Giuseppe Ottaviani - Waterpark
12. Giuseppe Ottaviani ft. Vitamin B - Waiting On Someday
13. Giuseppe Ottaviani with Aly&Fila - Brilliant People
14. Giuseppe Ottaviani ft. Audrey Gallagher - Walk This World With Me
15. Giuseppe Ottaviani & Ferry Corsten - Magenta

Release Date: May 27, 2013
Label: Black Hole Recordings

Listen:
Black Hole Recordings - http://www.blackholerecordings.com/music/albums/giuseppe-ottaviani-magenta-bonus-track-version/
SoundCloud - http://soundcloud.com/giuseppeottaviani/go-on-air-042
Spotify - http://open.spotify.com/album/6acEGvYOYZwVoMOpDcxEmO
YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLq5R-Uwn0feUR9Z0DhaNHIovBGH8MU8Os

Where to Buy:
Amazon - http://amzn.com/B00CWTAR8W
Beatport - http://www.beatport.com/release/magenta/1089217
FineNight - http://www.finenight.com/Magenta.html
iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/magenta-bonus-track-version/id645829821

Album Review: Solarstone - Pure

‘Pure‘ is the third studio album by Richard Mowatt, or better known to many as Solarstone. The multi-talented DJ, producer, singer and songwriter unleashed the power of trance in this 13-track album. This album is a way of him reclaiming what trance is really about.

Solarstone starts things off with the title track of the album, "Pure". The track begins with lovely piano keys before the synths and rhythms blends into the track producing uplifting sounds that is a great way to start things off. "Jewel" follows suit, the first vocal track of the album and the first one with the sultry voice of folk singer Clare Stagg. This tune, filled with melodic synths, will surely put your mind at ease. Such a relaxing and soothing tune.

Another vocal track comes in featuring the voice of Bill McGruddy in "Shake The Demons." McGruddy’s almost deep voice compliments the electronica sounds of this track with the synthesizer in full display. This almost has that new wave sound to it. Blending in the next tune, Solarstone changes things up with "Voyager." This higher BPM track is filled with pulsating melodies that takes you to a journey in outer space. The next track shows the versatility of Solarstone and is one of my favorite tunes. In the track "Where Do We Go From Here", he didn’t only produce the track but even sang a duet with New York based singer Betsie Larkin. This emotional vocal track features melodic strings and break beats with some lyrics that most of us can relate to.

"Fireisland" is the track he collaborated with Egypt’s own Aly & Fila. And with this collaboration, one can only expect a very uplifting trance track and they surely delivered with piano keys and bass guitar opening up to a salvo of melodic synths and beats that would surely lift your mood up. Clare Stagg’s vocals came into play in "Requiem," a mellow track that features lovely strings that compliment well with Stagg’s folksy voice. "Falcons" follows in which Solarstone collaborated with Italian producer Giuseppe Ottaviani. Amazing production on this track filled with melodic beats and haunting female harmony that would surely be part of live DJ sets in the future.

Solarstone does a solo in "Please," a melodramatic track with amazing beats, synths and drops that would surely be a favorite of trance lovers out there. And he did have a guest in this track, the voice of a legendary 60s rock legend. Then came my favorite tune of the album, "The Spell", the last tune in the album which features the voice of Clare Stagg. This track is absolutely gorgeous and has gotten massive airplay in radio shows including A State Of Trance, Global DJ Broadcast and Corsten’s Countdown. Combining melodic bass and uplifting melody with the strong and sultry voice of Stagg, this tune is one of the best tracks of 2012.

Solarstone continues with another solo act in "Lovers." Showing his versatility once more by helming the vocals of this track, "Lovers" is a haunting track with melodic break beats and uplifting strings that would surely melt your heart. This track is almost an ode to someone who is far away especially the lyrics. Then he follows this with another melodramatic trance track in "Present To The Past" which begins with some heavy strings with emphasis on the guitar keys before adding ambient bass and synths that would soothe one’s nerves.

Solarstone closes out the album with the haunting track "Swansong". Another melodramatic track with haunting vocals of Hannah Magenta and a chilled ambience that would surely be ideal for those nights when you just want to relax and meditate.

Solarstone is utterly a genius and stayed true to his roots, combining various melodies into forming a sound that we longed for, that is, pure trance.

10/10

This review can also be found on TranceHub - http://trancehub.com/reviews/albums/solarstone-pure/

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